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Hamas Tries in Gaza Talks to Broaden Its Cabinet

GAZA, Feb. 20 - With an Israeli military helicopter circling overhead, Hamas opened talks on Monday with other militant factions on forming the new Palestinian government, a process expected to take at least two weeks.

The Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, also met in Gaza with the Hamas leaders, including the group's nominee for prime minister, Ismail Haniya.

On Tuesday, Mr. Abbas is expected to ask Mr. Haniya formally to put together the new government, Palestinian officials said. But before Mr. Haniya even assembles a cabinet, his government faces sanctions from Israel and a mounting financial crisis.

Hamas has a solid majority in the new legislature, which was sworn in Saturday, and could form a government on its own. But it says it wants to include as many factions as possible. A broad-based government could strengthen Hamas as it seeks international support.

Mr. Abbas's Fatah faction, which dominated Palestinian politics for decades, has said it does not want to be a partner with Hamas. Islamic Jihad, which refused to take part in the election last month and has carried out all of the Palestinian suicide bombings during the past year, also turned down the invitation, though it said it would support Hamas.

Hamas leaders are so new to government that they are still conducting business from their homes, and the talks with several small factions on Monday were in the home of Dr. Mahmoud Zahar, the leader of the Hamas faction in parliament.

The factions include the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine, both of which Israel regards as terrorist groups.

Members of the Popular Front, which won three seats in parliament, said they were likely to enter the government. One leader, Kayed al-Ghoul, said Hamas "promised that after they assume power they will not arrest fighters and they will free fighters in Palestinian jails."

Hamas has three weeks to form the cabinet, and the process can be extended for two weeks. Dr. Zahar predicted that a government would be in place within two weeks.

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While the meeting was under way, an Israeli military helicopter circled over the neighborhood. In September 2003, an Israeli airstrike destroyed Dr. Zahar's home at the same site, killing one of his sons and wounding him and his wife.

Before the new government can be established, it needs the approval of Mr. Abbas, who says it must recognize previous agreements with Israel and accept the goal of negotiations with it. Hamas has always rejected these positions and does not accept the existence of Israel, but says it believes it can still develop a good working relationship with Mr. Abbas.

Hamas says it may propose a long-term truce with Israel. But Israel says it would view such a move as an attempt to gain international legitimacy, not a change in the fundamental Hamas position.

In Israel, Yuval Diskin, the director of the Shin Bet security service, testified before a parliamentary committee on Monday. Israeli news organizations quoted him as describing Hamas as a "strategic threat."

Israel says Hamas must recognize Israel, disavow violence and express support for previous agreements before there can be any dialogue.

The Israeli cabinet decided Sunday to withhold the roughly $50 million in tax and customs revenues it collects each month on behalf of the Palestinian Authority. Israel has warned that more sanctions could follow. The Authority needs $100 million each month just to meet the payroll for its 135,000 employees.

In a search for financing, the top Hamas leader, Khaled Meshal, who lives in exile, visited Iran on Monday. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, praised the Palestinian fight against Israel and called on Muslims worldwide to give money to the Palestinians, Iranian state television reported. There was no word that he had committed any money.

In renewed violence on Monday, Israeli forces raided Nablus, on the West Bank, a stronghold for militants where it has carried out military operations over the last two days, and killed two militants, the military said. One was a local Islamic Jihad leader, the military and Palestinian security officials said. Israel said it had also arrested seven suspects.